ACTIVITY 2: DNA MAKES DNA
In this activity, you will work to demonstrate the replication of the DNA molecule and the
specificity of base pairing in the nitrogenous bases.
Objective:
Make a model of a DNA template to determine the sequence of bases in the new DNA strand.
Materials:
· crayons
· scissors
· paste/tape
· long bond paper or long size folder (white)
Procedure:
1. Use the patterns of the components of the DNA provided by your teacher. Color code phosphate =
blue, deoxyribose sugar = green and nitrogenous bases as follows: adenine = yellow, thymine = pink,
guanine= violet and cytosine = red.
2. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide.
3. Build a model of a strand of a DNA molecule. The strand should contain 6 base "rungs" following the
given order of the nucleotides below.
Guanine
Adenine
Cytosine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
4. Tape the cut-out pattern to form the nucleotides.
5. Let this arrangement represent the left half of your DNA molecule. Make a complementary strand for
the first strand that you made in step 3.
7. Tape the cut-out pattern forming nucleotides for the second strand of the DNA molecule.
8. Match the bases of the first strand and the second strand. Do not tape across bases.
9. Once you have made your DNA model, separate the two strands of the DNA model down the middle
so that there are now two single strands of
10. Create new double-stranded DNA by matching complementary nucleotides to the bases on each
single strand.
11. Tape and then cut out the pattern forming the nucleotides for each of the single nucleotides.
12. When you are finished, mount the original DNA model and the DNA model with its complementary
strand in the illustration board or folder.
Guide Questions:
Q1. Compare the two new strands of DNA. Are they the same or different? Why?
Q2. How do the nucleotides in DNA pair?
Q3. How do you compare a DNA molecule to a zipper?
Q4. How is information from the DNA passed on from one cell to another?
Q5. How does the structure of a DNA molecule help account for the great variety of life that exists on
earth?
Answers:
Q1. Compare the two new strands of DNA. Are they the same or different? Why?
The two new strands of DNA are the same because DNA replication is semi-conservative. Each new DNA
molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand, which is complementary to
the template strand. This ensures that the sequence of bases is identical in both DNA molecules.
Q2. How do the nucleotides in DNA pair?
Nucleotides in DNA pair according to the base-pairing rules: adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) using two
hydrogen bonds, and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) using three hydrogen bonds. These specific
pairings ensure the accuracy of replication.
Q3. How do you compare a DNA molecule to a zipper?
A DNA molecule is similar to a zipper because the two strands of the DNA double helix are held together
by base pairs, like the teeth of a zipper. During replication, the enzyme helicase "unzips" the DNA by
breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs, separating the two strands like unzipping a zipper.
Q4. How is information from the DNA passed on from one cell to another?
Information from DNA is passed on through replication during the cell cycle. Before a cell divides, its
DNA is copied so that each daughter cell receives an identical set of genetic instructions. This ensures
that all cells in an organism have the same genetic information.
Q5. How does the structure of a DNA molecule help account for the great variety of life that exists on
earth?
The structure of DNA allows for an immense variety of base sequences. The sequence of the four
nitrogenous bases (A, T, C, G) encodes genetic information, and the vast number of possible
combinations leads to the genetic diversity seen in all living organisms. This diversity enables the
development of different traits and adaptations, accounting for the variety of life on Earth.
